


Cobb's Creek 

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Old Powder Mm 





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Cobb's Creek 

in the Days of the 
Old Powder Mill 



3 Illustrated 




By 3d^W. Eckfeldt. M. D. 

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Copyright, 1917 

by 
John W. Eckfeldt 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 



Upper Cobb's Creek Frontispiece 

Tenement Row, Lower Bank 20 

Cedar Grove Mill 24 

Nitre Hall Magazine . . . . ^ 27 

Nitre House 31 

Old Powder Mill 34 

Old Drying House 37 

Charcoal House 39 

Betsy Hall's House 44 

Widows' Row 47 

Cotton Mill No. 2 51 

Old Press House 54 

Peggy Keenan's House 57 

Powder Mill Dam 62 

Powder Mill Dam Falls 65 

Wm. Rogers' House 69 

Saw and Grist Mill 73 

Castle Hill Mill 79 

Clinton Mill 85 

St. Dennis's Church 89 

Friends' Meeting House 102 



PREFACE 

ALONG association with the Cobb's 
Creek Valley has filled my mind 
with pleasing recollections of days 
happily spent in this region now so utterly 
changed by the lapse of time. 

Being attracted to this location by its 
beauty, and having associated with the 
inhabitants of the valley through my pro- 
fessional calling, I learned much of the 
people, their mode of living; and also of 
the various industrial establishments where 
they were employed. 

In compliance with numerous requests 
of interested persons, I have endeavored 
in this book to relate many of the events 
which took place in the valley, to describe 
the scenery, the people, their homes, and 
tell of what remains of the old places of 
industry. 



INTRODUCTION 

IT has been my intention for a number of 
years to give as complete an historical 
sketch of the region herein embraced as 
is within the power and scope of my knowl- 
edge. Along the valley of Cobb's Creek 
this place commences with the eastern line 
of Penfield, which is situated a short dis- 
tance north from the Philadelphia Golf 
Grounds, winds through the ravine at 
Beechwood, and terminates at Ardmore 
Junction, on the Philadelphia and Western 
Railway. 

This locality once had an existence asso- 
ciated with much of particular interest. 
Here, about one hundred and five years ago 
an industry flourished and large amounts 
of gunpowder were annually manufactured. 
These mills were closed about the year 
1840, having been in active existence for 
at least seventy-seven years, and were fol- 
lowed by others for the making of cotton 
and woolen goods. 

The greatest difficulty encountered in 
the preparation of this historical sketch 
has been the finding of authentic records 

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and meeting people now living who could 
give even meagre account of the past. 

For this reason the work of tracing what 
is here recorded has been a difficult and 
tedious process, but I have been extremely 
fortunate in obtaining the facts and ac- 
counts of much that went on there in those 
early days. 

For fifty years I have been associated 
with the region, and for the last forty-five 
years closely connected with the people; 
and I have a thorough knowledge ot all 
the houses and places of interest. It is 
safe to say that I have conversed with 
several of the now elderly people who 
worked there and who grew up from child- 
hood in the valley. 

Notes as taken were preserved with the 
view to use should a day come when they 
would be of greater interest. 

The whole field has now been covered 
and I doubt if there remains any further 
knowledge to be divulged. 

The endeavor to illustrate with photo- 
graphs the actual places once standing has 
been attended with much difficulty and 
covered a long period of years, yet with 
the attempt to render the scope of the work 
more interesting I feel I have been remark- 

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ably successful in bringing together this 
series of views. 

The result of this was done principally 
by myself, with only two exceptions, in 
which pictures were found to be extant 
and in the possession of persons who by 
mere chance had traveled many years ago 
through this region. The views here pre- 
sented embrace places that existed at the 
earlier dates. It was my intention to add 
more, yet those selected from the series 
seemed to be the most appropriate and of 
greater interest. 

John W. Eckfeldt. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
October 1, 1917. 



THE OLD POWDER MILLS 

THE views were taken along the Valley 
of Upper Cobb's Creek about one- 
quarter of a mile to the north from the 
Philadelphia line, more properly and better 
known as the Township Line Road. 

The object of illustrating this particular 
section with photographs occurred to me 
several years ago as a means of preserving 
and perpetuating the past scenes of a truly 
historical region which is but little known 
to the people of today. 

The Powder Mills, situated as they were 
in an almost isolated location, in a truly 
wild and picturesque valley, must have 
been a pleasure to see in those days. The 
little group of houses, the several mills, 
the people, the wild scenery, the groves of 
willow trees, made the place a charming 
spot. Certainly this was a quiet little 
settlement nestled almost in the solitude 
of nature, the only disturbance to the 
quiet being the low pounding of the 
stampers which could be heard by day 
and night. 

This location, with which I have been 
associated for the past fifty years and thus 
gone over, was known more familiarly to 
the old inhabitants as the Nitre Hall Pow- 

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der Mill Valley, the mills being technically 
known by that name. 

It was here about one hundred and fif- 
teen years ago that a lively enterprise was 
being carried on. Gunpowder was manu- 
factured on an extensive scale and the de- 
mand for orders was unusually large at 
that time. 

The original mill and other buildings 
connected with it were modest in appear- 
ance and small in dimension, yet a large 
amount of the refined product was turned 
out in the course of years. 

The process of manufacturing gunpowder 
in the Nitre Hall Mills may be interesting. 

First the charring of the wood was done 
in the willowhouse. The powder manu- 
factured at this mill was used mostly for 
ordnance and blasting purposes. The ac- 
tion of such powder is less violent than 
that made from harder wood; and willow 
charcoal was preferably employed. 

The willow sticks were cut small size, 
not over one to five inches in thickness. 
The wood was always prepared in the 
early spring when the sap began to flow, so 
that the bark might be peeled ofi^ easily. 
It was then placed in the seasoning house 
before charring. 

LIBRARY 



We now come to the most important 
operation conducted in these mills. At the 
first mill at the head of the lane was done 
the refining and reducing of the component 
parts. The charcoal was first broken up 
separately by the stamping mill. The 
stamping mill was manipulated by a hori- 
zontal shaft several feet in length which 
ran a series of stampers. There were the 
same number of mortars or receptacles 
made of heavy oak planks several feet in 
diameter which received the stampers, be- 
ing connected with the revolving shaft 
above. 

If necessary the crude sulphur was puri- 
fied by melting, then run into cores. This, 
however, was not generally required. It 
was not sublimed as might be supposed to 
obtain a pure product. As made by this 
process it was apt to contain more free 
sulphurous acid and would not make a suit- 
able gunpowder. In this mill the sulphur 
was broken up very finely by the stampers 
and was further pulverized by the same 
process as the charcoal by rolling or re- 
volving in cast-iron cylinders or barrels, 
with brass balls. 

The nitre received very little extra prepa- 
ration unless impure through containing 

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foreign matter, when it was dissolved and 
re-crystallized. It usually came in casks 
and was generally very pure. 

At the time for incorporating the ma- 
terials, the ingredients were mixed and 
further pulverized in a revolving iron barrel. 

The next step was the grinding process. 
This was done in a strong frame under two 
heavy cast-iron wheels following each other 
in a cast-iron trough. Previous to this the 
powder was sprinkled with water. 

For greater safety there was an estab- 
lished rule in this process not to allow too 
large an amount to be ground in this way 
for fear of an explosion. The limit was 
from forty to fifty pounds. It took from 
two to three hours to thoroughly incorpo- 
rate the mixture. 

From the grinding mill it went to the 
compressing house, where the necessary 
density was given to the mass. The prod- 
uct as it left this stage went to the milling 
machine. Here it was again broken up 
into a fine powder, which was passed be- 
tween soft iron rolls set in a substantial 
frame. The powder was then spread out 
in layers about four inches thick, separated 
by copper plates, i. ^.,one layer above the 
other. These were placed under the power- 

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ful press, thereby reducing the thickness to 
about one inch. 

The powder was then transferred to the 
first mill house where the graining was 
done. This was accomplished by passing 
the compressed cakes through fluted rolls 
and afterwards passing the broken up mass 
through sieves. 

Following this came the glazing. This 
was accomplished in barrels by constant 
rolling or revolving for some time. This 
wore down the edges of the grains and gave 
them smoothness. 

Finally, remaining moisture was dissi- 
pated, when the finished product was 
taken to the drying house, where the pow- 
der was spread out on shelves around a 
room heated by a furnace. 

The dusting process was done with fine 
meshed sieves to relieve the grains of any 
fine powder which would lessen the value. 

The powder was then ready to be placed 
in the kegs and stored in the magazine. As 
the kegs were filled and headed they were 
stamped "S. B." to show the approval of 
Samuel Bloom, the cooper who did the 
filling. 

It must be remembered that at this early 
date the manufacture of gunpowder was 

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accomplished under many difficulties. The 
lack of machinery forced upon the work- 
men much laborious work which is entirely 
overcome today by modern improvements. 
Some of the machines and presses in this 
old mill were handled by the men with 
remarkable facility in view of the strength 
required. 

The amount of gunpowder manufactured 
annually in these mills was very consider- 
able. In a pamphlet issued in 1826, being 
a report on the Manufactures in Mills of 
Delaware County, a statement is made that 
in 1825 ten thousand quarter casks of gun- 
powder were made. 

The proprietors of this mill were two 
elderly men, retiring in their mode of life, 
who closely and strictly guarded their 
works, allowing no trespassing within the 
grounds. One of them, being of an irri- 
table nature, was frequently annoyed by 
the boys of the surrounding meighborhood, 
and those who came too near were severely 
dealt with for their folly. 

These men were William Rogers, Jr., and 
Israel Wheelin, the latter having estab- 
lished the plant some years prior to his 
partnership with Mr. Rogers. 

They carried on their association until 

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the year 1825. Mr. Wheelin being in fail- 
ing health died about that time, and Mr. 
Rogers, assuming the entire control of the 
business, carried it on until 1840. 

Mr. Rogers as we knew him was a tall 
and dignified man. He resided in a fine 
old stone mansion which he built, and 
which was situated on the bank of the 
stream (Cobb's Creek) overlooking a beau- 
tifully planned mill dam. 

The dwelling houses along the creek in 
this immediate vicinity were comparatively 
tew in number and many poorly built, 
others were of but one story, and as little 
attention and care had been given them 
for the past fifty years, they became weather 
worn, and time and decay have caused 
them to fall to pieces. What material was 
left has been either removed or destroyed. 
A number of workmen, probably twenty- 
five, were employed in the mill and such 
houses were made comfortable homes. 
Since the disappearance of these houses 
other industries have come and gone in 
this historic valley. 

In the year 1840 or' 41 the entire property, 
including a number of acres with dilapi- 
dated dwellings, was purchased by Dennis 
Kelly, who came to this country and 

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started the milling business on Cobb's 
Creek, and at different locations not far 
from one another four mills were erected. 

Until a period about forty years ago 
these mills did a flourishing business in 
the manufacture of yarn, and produced a 
good grade of cloth. 

It was found, however, that the mills 
were inconveniently located for the re- 
quirements of more modern times, and the 
difficulties encountered in transporting the 
goods became more and more a burden 
until it was impossible to compete with 
other mills nearer the city. The encroach- 
ment of other surrounding improvements 
led the managers to lose interest, financial 
failure forced abandonment, and the manu- 
facture of cloth and yarn in this locality 
practically reached its end. 

From my early recollection I can say 
with much pleasure that there never was a 
more beautiful locality to visit than this old 
romantic valley. Here was found nature's 
solitude, with wild and lovely scenery, 
wooded hills, bright and cheerful places, 
running water courses and homelike places, 
a truly restful spot for the mind and body, 
producing a livening influence among the 
old trees, flowers and birds. 

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The people who Hved and worked there 
walked to and fro to their places of em- 
ployment and life and pleasure was truly 
theirs in those days. The men had their 
amusements and home gatherings and in 
the evening their music and games and 
friendly smokes, while the country store 
was their place to assemble after the day's 
work was over. Here they talked and ex- 
changed their views and gathered the news 
from the outer world. 

Today all this has changed and gone. 
Nothing of the people, places or industries 
is left to mark the day of prosperity. The 
landmarks have become greatly changed 
to the eye by destruction. The mag- 
nificent old trees have reached their limit 
of life and gone, and the familiar places in 
many instances are dumping grounds. 
Modern improvement has come to the 
valley, but the real beauty of the place 
has vanished. 

To reach this valley one has to travel 
along the public highway leading from the 
Haverford Road southwesterly until the 
bridge which spans the creek is reached. 
At this point the entrance is to the right 
on a slight rise in the road where the rail- 
road now crosses. 

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Walking down this road one will notice 
several houses. The first on the right on 
rising ground was the home of Dennis 
Kelly, a large stone building with well 
cultivated grounds, an attractive and shady 
lane leading to the entrance. A short 
distance below is the second building, a 
stone structure, also on the right side of 
the road. This was the property of Patrick 
Boyle, the successor of Mr. Kelly. 

About two "squares" down the road and 
just across the bridge we come to an old 
familiar place called the "lower bank." 
Here stood a row of tenement houses, 
neat and well kept, with the old mills on 
the left at the border of the woods. These 
houses were built by Dennis Kelly and 
were occupied by the families who were 
employed in the Cedar Grove Mill. Op- 
posite this row there stood a two-story 
frame house, occupied by four families. 
The old house was kept neat and attract- 
ive, and here lived for a number of 
years a worthy old widow, Kate Nelson, 
who also worked in the mill and finally 
became the practical nurse of the neighbor- 
hood. 

The tenement row was left to its fate 
and during later years the place was occu- 

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pied by Italians and negroes. The row 
was destroyed in 1915 by a tramp or some 
reckless individual, who, probably being 
intoxicated, desired to see what mischief 
could be done by a fire. 

Some years ago, during the active period 
of the mill industry, there lived in one of 
these houses a prominent character, William 
Sharkey, who not only worked at his trade, 
but reached a professional standing in the 
community and was generally titled 
"Squire." He managed to settle the dis- 
putes, which were of rare occurrence, leav- 
ing them more to the judgment of the 
people themselves. 

Opposite this row of houses may be seen 
an old house now greatly remodeled. This 
building was the office of Cedar Grove 
Mill, erected and conducted by Dennis 
Kelly and after his death by Patrick Boyle. 
After Mr. Boyle discontinued the business 
this was converted into a dwelling. It was 
here the famous John Hannigan, a curious 
character, lived for many years. 

A short distance behind this house were 
two stone buildings. These were the dye 
and a stock room for Mr. Boyle's mill, which 
stood a short distance away, and properly 
known in the business world as the Cedar 

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Grove Mill. This was quite a large mill 
and one of the earliest built. 

Patrick Boyle kept up the industry and 
in his days the mill was conducted very 
properly and extensive manufacturing was 
accomplished. The output from the mill 
was yarn and woolen fabrics. He furnished 
the Government with cloth and received 
large orders during the Civil War. 

The mill at that time was running over- 
time and such a condition continued until 
the year 1873. 

The building soon fell into decay after 
it was abandoned following the closing of 
the industry, and all that now remains are a 
few foundation stones. 

On the north side of the bridge which 
spans the creek on the public road there 
was located at one time a large mill dam. 
The power given to the mill was from this 
source, and the water was conducted several 
hundred feet to the mill by an underground 
conduit. All this has now entirely disap- 
peared. 

A short distance up the road to the 
west will be found all that remains of 
the entrance to the Powder Mill Lane. 
Entering the side of the hill through a 
deep cut, going through this lane over a 

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wooded hill, we come directly to the maga- 
zine. 

This building was erected about one 
hundred years ago, a strong and well built 
structure composed entirely of stone and 
covered with a slate roof. There were 
two doors, one east and one west, but no 
windows. The floors were white oak tim- 
ber, pinned to the joists, as no metal was 
used in the construction. 

Here the powder was received from the 
mills and stored in the kegs, the entire 
process as accomplished in this building 
being done by one man. 

The building has been slightly altered at 
one corner in order to furnish ample room 
for the railway (Philadelphia & Western) 
bed which passes. This building fortu- 
nately has been preserved by the con- 
siderate company. 

To the north side of the lane and op- 
posite this building will be found the re- 
mains of the deeply sunken tail race which 
conducted the water from the powder mill, 
and later the cotton mill, running parallel 
with the roadway, and continuing its 
course to the bend, where it united with 
the creek below. Along the banks grew 
massive gnarled willows and other trees 

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which sought the nearby water, while the 
sloping banks were adorned with masses of 
glowing ferns and patches of the yellow 
celandine. 

At this section the lane passes through a 
more open space, the sides of the road be- 
ing lined with old willow trees, as were also 
the adjoining fields. These trees had been 
planted in every available space for rapid 
growth. They were annually trimmed and 
the wood used for the purpose of making 
charcoal. 

A short distance from here will be seen 
the eastern end of the second cotton mill 
erected by Dennis Kelly at the close of the 
powder-making industry. It may be of 
interest here to mention that the wall 
of the first story of this mill was the original 
wall of one of the old powder mills. 

At this section of the creek we come di- 
rectly to the powder-making centre. Situ- 
ated over a small area were located five 
special buildings. The first of these was a 
large one-story stone structure with strong 
walls and strengthened on the outer side 
by four massive stone braces. This build- 
ing was used as the finishing house, and 
for safety the roof was so arranged in case 
of an accident that it would be simply 

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lifted off by the force of an explosion, not 
being securely fastened to the walls. 

The second building was a little further 
up the lane and protected by a high bank 
which carried the race above, furnishing 
motive power to the mill. This building 
was the "Mixing or Incorporating House" 
where the most dangerous portion of the 
work was done. On several occasions there 
were accidents quite disastrous of which 
there is authentic record. 

The Nitre House was by the bank below 
the race and was somewhat hidden by the 
hill toward Mr. Rogers' mansion. This 
was a one-story stone building amply con- 
structed and after the decline of the older 
industry was converted into a dwelling, 
finally becoming a stable. This building 
was torn down in 1879 after fulfilling several 
useful purposes for years. 



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THE PRINCIPAL POWDER MILL 

STANDING among the trees by the 
race bank, with water wheel in the 
basement at the right side, the lower 
walls of this old building were constructed 
of stone and very thick. The main building 
was frame with a double pitched roof. It 
was in this building that the greater portion 
of the general work was done. The grind- 
ing of the mixture previously incorporated 
by the heavy iron rollers in an iron recepta- 
cle was attended with great risk, yet all 
precautions were taken. 

For many years this building stood and 
remained in a fairly good state of preser- 
vation. 

The grinding mill was entirely on the 
first floor and the basement was used for 
developing power from the wheel, and a 
storehouse for material used. The en- 
trance was from the south side toward the 
race bank. In later years it was converted 
into two dwellings, one was the home of a 
very clever old man, Patrick McGinty, 
who raised a family and lived comfortably 
until his death. The building was finally 
torn down in 1878. 

On the other side of the creek below the 
dam a third stone building was located, 

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also having strong, thick walls, and con- 
taining but a single room. This was 
the drying house for the newly made 
powder. 

The front walls of this building were 
strongly re-inforced with four massive stone 
braces and stood facing the creek with a 
door at the front and side. The remaining 
portion of the building was in the form of a 
crescent and close to the ascending bank 
several windows admitted light. The roof 
had a double pitch and was covered with 
oak shingles. So odd was the appearance 
of this building that it was frequently 
called the "Bee Hive" and "Round 
House." 

For accommodation there was a bridge 
crossing the creek at this point, giving easy 
access to the entrance. 

Within this building was a large heavy 
iron vessel constructed in the front wall 
over the furnace, which was directly in the 
centre and set low in the foundation. This 
furnace was lined with soapstone. It was 
by this means that when the device was 
thoroughly heated it diffused the heat more 
evenly through the interior, where the fin- 
ished powder was placed on shelves, dis- 
sipating any retained moisture. It is also 

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very possible that other work than dryuig 
powder was done in this building. 

Situated to the east was a frame house 
connected by a closed passage. Here it 
was that the employees could rest while 
waiting their turn to watch the operation 
of distributing and drying the powder. 

The Sulphur House stood on the bank by 
the dam. This was merely an open frame 
structure. 

The old storehouse for charcoal occupied 
a piece of ground a little further up the 
lane and facing the dam, being commonly 
known as the "black house." This was 
also a frame and later converted into a 
rude dwelling. 

Other uses for this house were made. 
Here was stored the willow wood after being 
cut and dried previous to the carbonizing 
process. 

How few persons passing the spot today 
could be led to realize that a large frame 
house once stood there! 

After it fell into disuse at the closing of the 
mill it was tenanted and made comfortable 
apartments for those who dwelt there. A 
few years ago this building was removed to 
make room for the railroad then being con- 
structed (Philadelphia & Western). 

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A short distance above this point was 
to be found the spring alongside the road 
bank in an excavation in the rocky bed, 
being overhung by the shade of the low 
branched trees. Here was a spring whose 
water was cold and refreshing, and many a 
time travelers sat beside it in the heat of 
a summer day. 

The tract of land containing these build- 
ings was enclosed in a high board fence 
with a gate at each end. The gates were 
always closed except on Sunday, when 
they were opened at a certain hour to 
allow the people to pass along the lane 
through the enclosure on their way to 
church. 



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QUAINT CHARACTERS OF 
"ANOTHER DAY" 

ON the other side of Cobb's Creek on 
the brow of a small hill there still 
stands a small house partly built of 
logs, the remainder frame. This building is 
also very old. It has a large stone chimney 
on the outside at one end, and was built 
about 1810. During the earlier days of the 
powder mill industry this house was occu- 
pied by an old lady familiarly called Betsy 
Hall. She worked for a living as a seam- 
stress and was a very popular person in 
the neighborhood. She did much work for 
the families who were employed in the 
region. She raised her own flax and spun 
the thread, and the cloth, linsey-woolsey 
was woven in the nearby mill. 

Nearby stands a two-story stone house 
originally used as a stable but later con- 
verted into four dwellings. 

To the left of the road in the present 
location, also on a rising elevation, there 
stood until recently a row of stone houses 
and three dwellings in one. These were 
the residences of the principal employees 
in the powder mill. The dwellings had a 
peculiar title and were known at a later 

45 



date as "The Widows' Row," but just 
why or how they were so designated I 
have been unable to verify. The only 
reason I could suggest for the title belongs 
to a very recent period. It appears that 
the families who occupied these houses 
during the Civil War sent their men to the 
front, and of the men who were engaged 
in the service many failed to return, losing 
their lives while on duty, hence those left 
were the widows. 

The western end was occupied by Samuel 
Bloom, the old cooper, his wife and two 
children, John and Sarah. 

Beneath this house was a spacious cellar 
or basement, and here was located the 
cooperage. All the tasks connected with 
the making of the kegs were accomplished 
in this place. The filling and heading of 
the kegs was done in the magazine. 

The second house was occupied by 
Thomas Cochran, who carried on his trade 
of shoemaking. His work included the 
making and mending of the wooden-soled 
shoes for the employees, besides doing 
other repair work in leather that was 
needed in the mill. 

At one time this was an attractive spot 
and many days were spent by the old 

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cooper under the shade of his trees in his 
garden. He had pleasure at times when 
not employed, but when the day came for 
filling the kegs the danger to his life was 
fully appreciated by his wife, yet he lived 
to be eighty-six years of age and never was 
injured. 



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THE OLD COTTON AND WOOLEN 

MILLS 

IN previous remarks in connection with 
the second cotton mill located where the 
powder mill stood, we have stated that 
at the death of Mr. Kelly, Patrick Boyle suc- 
ceeded him and carried on the business for 
a number of years. Mr. Boyle failed and 
the building was rented and occupied by 
John and Thomas Burns, who ran it as a 
cotton yarn mill for forty years. Finally, 
the loss of the water supply caused by the 
bursting of the dam above, together with 
other financial embarrassments, led them 
to relinquish the business. The old mill 
stood idle for several years. One night 
during 1910 it was set on fire and finally 
the remaining walls were torn down. 

West of this mill stood the old factory 
pump, and in its day it gave good water to 
many hands and to passers-by. 

Just beyond this old relic there stood, 
overshadowed by the trees, an antiquated 
structure which was the blacksmith shop of 
the neighborhood, extremely dilapidated. 
It soon fell into decay. In more recent 
years it fulfilled the purpose of a storage 
house for the adjacent cotton mill. 

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Beyond this spot will be seen still stand- 
ing an old chimney. Here once stood a 
building constructed upon thick and strong 
foundations and situated along the bank 
upon which the head race was conducted. 
The building was frame and of late years 
was remodeled and used as a dwelling. It 
was the quiet home of Hugh Dessert as 
late as 1878. 

Although there were few buildings en- 
tirely devoted to the powder industry that 
were substantially built in those days, this 
one was more lightly constructed than the 
others and was the general press house. 
Here the powder was further manipulated, 
being compressed into cakes to secure more 
density, making it safer to transport it 
to the other houses prior to the next 
stage. 

Until a comparatively short period there 
could be seen the remains of the presses 
with the long copper bars used for levers. 
These machines were so arranged and 
managed that they gave the desired result. 
The old building, finally so decayed, event- 
ually fell into ruins. 

Alongside of this house and about in the 
centre of the lane there was a very old one- 
story frame house which weathered the 

55 



storms and floods for many years. This 
place was a sort of notion store, and was a 
particular attraction for the children. It 
was kept by a worthy old lady who not 
only derived a benefit from her sales but 
also worked by day in the cotton mill. 
This old person was Peggy Keenan, but 
was generally known by the village people 
as "Peggy the Burler." What little things 
she sold were evidently attractive, besides 
the soft sort of drinks she made at home. 
It was found necessary for the township 
to widen the lane to a public township 
road on the proper plans, and the house 
was removed, much to the regret of her 
friends. 

This old building was really two dwell- 
ings, the other occupied by Mrs. Harriet 
Lysett, who also kept a little notion store. 

In the early days this building was erected 
to be used for a school and was conducted 
as such for a number of years, later being 
abandoned. It seems that for this use the 
building was little known by those who 
followed. About forty years ago it was 
raised and carried on rollers for half a mile 
up the creek to a place that was called the 
"English Row," where the same occupants 
still conducted their business. 

56 




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A PECULIAR CHARACTER 

IN this vicinity it was not uncommon to 
see almost daily a peculiar character 
wandering from one place to another 
seeking work in exchange for food and a 
place to rest at night. For simply a meal a 
day, by his services he would keep the 
people in a supply of firewood, as he ex- 
celled with the saw and axe. 

His general appearance was rude and 
forlorn. He allowed his hair and beard to 
grow extremely long and it was very tan- 
gled. He was always clad in the poorest 
form of clothing, and would wander along 
the roads calling at the houses. He was 
extremely loath to enter into conversation, 
particularly with people he met, rarely re- 
plying to a question when addressed and 
taking no particular notice of those who 
addressed him. 

His power of resistance to cold, rain and 
heat was remarkable. He seemed abso- 
lutely to shun a warm room, preferring to 
sleep in some old barn or outhouse, and 
would arise in the morning vigorous and 
ready for work. He rarely ever wore a hat 
and always carried in his hand a corn- 
cutting blade, more for companionship than 
for protection or for purposes of defense. 

59 



This man, advanced in age, yet very 
unsociable, was kindly looked upon by the 
people. His name and whereabouts were 
very obscure and uncertain. The name by 
which he became designated was "Old 
Riccard" and finally "Colonel." 

For many years he passed his time on 
the creek, when one day he suddenly dis- 
appeared, never returning to his favorite 
haunts. Innocent and mentally peculiar 
he was never known to do any wrong. 



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THE POWDER MILL DAM 

BEHIND Peggy's house on a high bank 
was Mr. Rogers' spring house, a well- 
built stone structure. The water, used 
for cooling purposes, was brought from a 
still higher hill along an open conduit 
many feet away. The judgment in this 
method had been both well and success- 
fully planned. 

To the north of the creek at this location 
and by the side of a path or narrow road 
stood a one-story stone building. This 
was the schoolhouse for the neighboring 
country, yet there was never a very large 
attendance as the whole territory was 

sparsely settled. 

This building has been remodeled within 
a very recent period and now has the ap- 
pearance of a modern dwelling. 

There still remains a portion of the over- 
flow gate of the intake race that led to 
the mixing house. It was used principally 
for the purpose of allowing the water to 
escape when the mill was not being used. 
On one occasion during a heavy rainstorm 
this supply race became overly filled, and 
reaching the water wheel the power and 
speed became so greatly increased as to 
damage the machinery, thereby causing 

63 



much consternation among the people. A 
short distance above was the beautifully 
located powder-mill dam. In its earlier 
days this was a fine sheet of water covering 
several acres, and at one side banked by 
rocky and wooded hills redolent with trail- 
ing arbutus. 

From this source two mills derived their 
power, as every mill was then run with 
water power. 

The dam was built over the bed of the 
creek. After a heavy and disastrous flood in 
1909 the masonry gave way and a general 
catastrophe followed. The destruction was 
so great there has been no attempt since to 
repair it. For the past ten years nothing 
has been seen of this fine body of water 
that once adorned the valley. The long 
continued drainage from the surrounding 
country and the accumulation of silt and 
refuse for a period of years has completely 
filled the whole space, the bed of the creek 
being left exposed and lined with stumps 
of ancient trees that stood there prior to 
the period of the dam, preserved by long 
immersion. 

Mr. Rogers' house is seen above the bank 
of the intake race and directly opposite 
where the dam stood. The old house was 

64 




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very pleasantly located, situated on high 
and level ground overlooking much of the 
valley. It was built directly upon a rocky 
bed, since it was impossible to dig a cellar. 
The first story, therefore, was used as a 
basement and for general cellar purposes. 
The first floor stood high above the cellar 

floor. 

In front there were stairs to the ground 
and in the rear of the house, a bridge at 
least twenty feet in length, that extended 
to a still higher incline which brought the 
story to the level of the yard containing 
fruit trees. 

The interior of the house was commodi- 
ous and fairly well planned, the hall pass- 
ing through the centre and a large, well- 
lighted room opening on either side. The 
second floor was similar to the first. The 
third floor contained five rooms of medium 
size. The western wall of the third story 
was constructed with a door and one win- 
dow. Singular as it seems to place a door 
so high and beneath the eaves, the plan 
has led many persons to doubt its utility. 
All sorts of ideas have been suggested for 
its use, many too "far fetched" to answer 
the purpose or solve the problem and no 
conclusion drawn seems capable of solving 

67 



the mystery. The present resident, Mr. 
John Burns, who has occupied the house 
many years, states that it is beyond his 
explanation. 

It became my opinion, after carefully ex- 
amining the location of the door and the 
ground around the house, that another 
house of smaller proportion stood five to ten 
feet to the west. This was admitted by an 
old resident, who stated it was used by 
Mr. Rogers for some particular purpose. 
Here he spent much of his time, and the 
two houses were connected by a passage- 
way enabling him to go from one house to 
the other, especially in bad or inclement 
weather, without being exposed. This theory 
seems more plausible and is probably correct. 

This was a pretty location in those days; 
wild, yet adorned with the beauty of natural 
surroundings. As Mr. Rogers lived here 
in plain simplicity, so he died in his old 
and cherished home; and the present ten- 
ant, Mr. John Burns, has spent nearly 
half a lifetime, forty years, in this old and 
lasting memorial building, which was built 
over one hundred years ago. 

There were other buildings of less im- 
portance situated along the dam. There 
was a stone house on the opposite side, but 

68 




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this has long since fallen into decay. The 
remaining stones simply mark the spot 
where it stood. 

A short distance up the creek, through a 
very beautiful ravine lined with noble trees, 
were located the old grist and sawmills, 
situated at the bend of the road on the 
same site where the railroad power house 
now stands. 



71 



SAW AND GRIST MILLS 

THESE mills were built about 1810 by 
Jonathan Miller. A few years later 
David Quinn became associated with 
him in the business and served as manager. 
In 1827 Samuel Leedom took charge. In 
1844 Mr. Leedom purchased the Miller Mills 
and lived there until his death in 1872. 
Augustus B. Leedom, his son, became the 
owner and was succeeded by a Mr. Lambert. 
The latter was in turn succeeded by George 
Dickinson, who as the last owner, pur- 
chased the property in February, 1879, and 
came to reside in April of the following 
year. 

The decline of the sawmill industry, 
due to the depletion of the woodlands in 
that section of the country, together with 
the failure of the milling business as already 
described, caused the mills to be closed and 
the property sold to the Philadelphia & 
Western Railroad. The mills were removed 
about 1907 and the railway company's 
building erected. 

Situated where the lane united with the 
public road, these mills were snugly and 
prettily located. The surrounding rocky 
and wooded hills, with the dam and creek 
in the valley, gave pleasing responses to 

72 




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sounds uttered in the stillness of the cool, 
shaded hollow. This was "Echo Hollow." 

Within a few years past there has been 
built in this section one of our interesting 
and pleasant suburbs, with cheerful and 
ornamental houses and grounds, scattered 
throughout the wooded hills and slopes, 
and known as Beechwood. The railway 
built a station at this point prior to the 
erection of these homes, at the same time 
establishing an amusement park. 

Fortunately, this park had a short ex- 
istence, as the disquieting nature of the 
place was undesirable to the neighborhood, 
and finally proved to be an unsuccessful 
investment. It was closed, removed and 
more refined improvements laid out, much 
to the delight of the older residents. 



75 



THE VILLAGE SCHOOLHOUSE 

IN this vicinity and on the top of the hill 
overlooking Cobb's Creek Valley, and a 
short distance from the saw and grist 
mills, there was built in the year 1830 a 
stone schoolhouse. The ground on which 
this building stood was part of the tract of 
land owned by Jonathan Miller. For a 
number of years this school served all the 
requirements, as the number of children in 
attendance was then very small. As the 
neighborhood developed and the population 
increased it was found necessary to re- 
build the school or else make an addition. 
As suggested by the school committee, it 
was finally decided simply to enlarge the 
building. In the year 1854 or 1855 work 
on the schoolhouse began and soon the 
reconstruction was completed. It was 
found then that the building was more 
than large enough to hold the daily attend- 
ance. Many of the children who attended 
this school came considerable distances and 
often the attendance was small, particu- 
larly in bad weather. 

One of the early masters who taught in 
the school was John B. Moore, a man well 
advanced in years, who held his position 
for a long time. He had a very harsh and 

76 



irritable disposition and often severely chas- 
tised the children for tardiness or any in- 
discretion which led away from his peculiar 

rules. 

On the whole the teachers were well 
selected by the County Commissioners. 
The school continued holding its sessions 
for nearly sixty years, and many persons 
who lived in the valley can say that the 
limit of their education was that obtained 
within those walls. A few years ago the 
building was closed to educational activi- 
ties. It has been put into tidy condition 
and a religious body is now holding meet- 
ings there. 



77 



CASTLE HILL MILLS 

THE Leedom mansion stands a short 
distance from the mills on the bank 
to the right of the public road. It 
is an imposing, well-built home, the yard 
adorned with noble trees, aged box bushes 
and cheerful flowers. 

The road leading north winds through 
the rocky valley among the hills and sev- 
eral locations have been the scene of some 
interesting incidents. 

Through this region at the summit of the 
hill there existed a large deposit of glacial 
rocks, many of great size. At the highest 
altitude one rock weighing many tons was 
so evenly balanced that the slightest efl^ort 
could rotate it several degrees, yet it was 
impossible to dislodge it from its natural 
position. 

The attractive mill pond is situated here, 
and fortunately this has been preserved and 
is now used as a reservoir for the power 
company. The banks are rocky and the 
slopes are finely wooded. 

As the creek extends up this valley, wind- 
ing to the left, crossing a small bridge, we 
come to Castle Hill. 

About 1826 Dennis Kelly purchased 
Joshua Humphrey's grist mill, which stood 

78 







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at this point, and altered it to a cotton and 
woolen factory. He gave it the name 
Castle Hill Mills, and it was the third mill 
on the creek. Samuel Rhoades conducted 
the business as lessee for a number of years, 
and during the night of February 20, 1834, 
it caught fire from a picker and was entirely 
consumed. 

At a later date this mill was rebuilt. It 
was then leased for about ten years to 
John Hazlett, and from then on the mill 
was run at different periods by George 
Bumley, Joseph Howorth, Patrick Boyle 
and James Callighan. These were men who 
did promising business up to the year 1880. 

Sometime later the mills were run by 
Taylor Wolfenden & Company and were 
taxed to their utmost capacity, furnishing 
steady employment to over one hundred 
operatives. They turned out cassimeres 
worth several thousand dollars every month. 
This interesting place of industry was 
finally sold and the building destroyed. 

At the western end of the mill a number 
of dwellings were also located. Most of 
these too have entirely disappeared. 

A short distance to the west of the mill 
was a large pond covering several acres, 
which added much to the beauty of Castle 

81 



Hill. Splendidly wooded hills extended to 
the edge of the water on one side and a 
lovely lane on the other side. Few persons 
today can remember this body of water. It 
was a delightful place to visit. The still- 
ness and peacefidness of the valley were 
rarely disturbed. Occasionally a voice 
could be heard, or probably the rumbling 
of the mill below. 

A row of tenement houses suitable for 
ten families was built along the roadside 
facing the large mill pond. At one time 
they were attractive and looked very neat, 
but for want of care, and negligence on the 
part of a class of careless persons, the entire 
place soon presented a forlorn appearance. 
Formerly these houses were tenanted by 
old and familiar families who led happy 
and contented lives during the days when 
there was prosperity on the creek. This 
old row was often called the " English Row," 
evidently because the occupants were ot 
that nationalitv. 



82 



THE OLD HAVERFORD STORE 

THE old Haverford Store stands a short 
distance to the west where the Church 
Road crosses the Haverford Road. A 
long time ago the store was the centre for 
the general country and mill-hand trade 
and was a very popular place. Later, in the 
days of its greater prosperity, a post oflftce 
was established there, which was conducted 
by Taylor Wolfenden for a number of 
years. One person whom I met some years 
ago and who was probably one of the last 
to keep store at this place was William 
Denver. He was formerly an employee in 
the old Nitre Hall Powder Mill. After the 
decline of the milling business in this region 
the store failed to such an extent that it 
was scarcely able to maintain itself. In the 
light of its past prosperity its present state 
seems very deplorable. 

On the other side of the Church Road 
there is a row of old stone houses. These 
were built during the time Mr. Kelly oper- 
ated the upper mill. This row accommo- 
dated about ten families, and to all appear- 
ances they lived very comfortably. The 
houses have been preserved and still pre- 
sent a very tidy appearance. 



83 



CLINTON MILLS 

THE last and fourth mill on the creek 
within this locality was the Clinton 
Mills. 

In the year 1814 Dennis Kelly purchased 
the mill site on Upper Cobb's Creek from 
Isaac Ellis and built a small stone mill for 
the manufacture of woolen cloth. This mill 
he called the Clinton Mills. 

His venture was successful. He was asso- 
ciated later with George Wiest as partner, 
when larger tracts of land were purchased 
and the capacity of the Chnton Mills con- 
siderably enlarged. About this time his 
partner severed his connection with the 
firm and Mr. Kelly conducted the business 
alone, after doing an enormous business. 

These mills were worked to their capac- 
ity and large contracts of goods for the 
army and navy were fulfilled for the United 
States Government, but they have been 
lying idle for many years and within the 
last quarter of a century have received no 
care and have been allowed to deteriorate 
and fall to pieces. About fifteen years ago 
the property was sold and what mill material 
remained was removed. 

The situation is now^ disappointing and 
desolate, a place where active lile existed, 

84 




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and the sound of busy mills. All is now 
hushed, and there only remains the history 
of an animated place, merry with voices of 
a country village that has virtually passed 

away. 

A few other houses in the immediate 
vicinity have long since outlived their use- 
fulness, and being without tenants, they 
have fallen into decay. One frame still 
stands. This was used as a storehouse for 
material for the mills. It is now an old 
residence and is of little value. 

The old dam connected with the Clinton 
Mills has also fallen into disuse and very 
meagre traces of it can now be found, 
while the race is filled up with tangled 
undergrowth and shrubbery. 



8^ 



ST. DENNIS'S CHURCH 

THERE remains to be given in connec- 
tion with this pleasant valley an ac- 
count of the church that was used by 
many people. The only Roman Catholic 
church in the neighborhood, where most 
of the people worshipped, was built on 
higher ground above the Clinton Mills, 
not far from the Friends' Meeting House. 
This building, St, Dennis's Church, the 
first edifice of this denomination erected 
in Delaware County, was built during the 
year 1825. Dennis Kelly, the well-known 
manufacturer, donated the site and the 
land for the burial ground, and was one 
of the most benevolent contributors to 
the fund for the erection of the church. 
It was principally built for the accom- 
modation of those of that faith who were 
employed in his mills. The original build- 
ing was small, very plain and somewhat 
unattractive. Later the building was re- 
modeled and a very handsome house of 
worship stands there now. 

Mr. Kelly lived until July 21, 1864, being 
then 84 years of age. He was interred in 
these grounds. 



88 




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WILLIAM ROGERS AS THE ''NITRE 
HALL VALLEY" KNEW HIM 

IN reference to the history of the days of 
the old powder-making industry it might 
be of some interest to know more of the 
family of William Rogers. This can be 
briefly stated as far as my recollection goes. 

Since Mr. Rogers lived in this locality 
for many years, the members of his family 
had become well advanced in life when he 
discontinued the business. At an advanced 
age Mr. Rogers died at his place on the 
creek, while his wife survived him a num- 
ber of years. He was a Lutheran in his 
religious belief, and was a frequent attend- 
ant at the old Lower Merion Lutheran 
Church. It is probable that he was buried 
in the same churchyard. 

The other heirs were a son and three 
daughters. 

The son, William Rogers, Jr., was not 
deeply interested in the pursuits of his 
father, thinking the business too risky. He 
therefore undertook the study of medicine, 
after graduating went South on a venture, 
located permanently in the city of New 
Orleans, and properly followed his profes- 
sional career. 

91 



The daughters were Jane, Ann and EHza. 
They remained for several years at their 
old home, and finally decided to dispose of 
it and seek another locality more suitable 
to their future plans. 

About the year 1841, or probably a little 
later, Mrs. Rogers, Jane, and her sisters 
removed to Philadelphia and opened a 
private school for young ladies and little 
boys, at the corner of Thirteenth and Wal- 
nut Streets. Jane took care of the young 
ladies, while Ann and Eliza conducted the 
primary department for the boys. 

After being located at this place for sev- 
eral years, they changed their residence to 
the corner of Fifteenth and Pine Streets, in 
order to enlarge the facilities of their school, 
and in a short time later decided on a still 
more favorable location, on Pine Street be- 
low Nineteenth Street. They lived there 
prosperous and happy for a few years, when 
Jane died after prolonged ill health culmi- 
nating in consumption. Ann died later in 
the same year. Eliza broke up her home 
and went South, residing with her brother 
until her death. 

Mrs. Rogers died at an advanced age 
about the year 1843. 

It was always Mr. Rogers' desire that 

92 



the enclosure of the powder works be kept 
in a neat and tidy condition. He had all 
the walks and lanes leading to and from the 
mills carefully laid out and the stones re- 
moved and the surface covered with several 
inches of ground bark, thus securing an 
almost absolute safety. 

Traffic within the enclosure, including the 
hauling in wagons by horses, was never 
allowed if it could be avoided. At each 
end of the yard, outside the fence, the road- 
way was diverted to the opposite side of 
the creek, making it easy and safe to deliver 
the supplies over bridges or through the 
ford, which was easy and practicable. From 
this point the Powder Mill Lane extends in 
a northerly course, coming out at a point 
on the Haverford Road. 

Mr. Rogers had often remarked to his 
family and friends that his men had become 
careless, at times a little reckless and fear- 
less of the dangers to which they were sub- 
jected. He constantly cautioned them 
about their indifference in the habit of us- 
ing iron hammers, shovels, unprotected 
shoes, and of smoking their pipes around 
the works, yet his advice was frequently 
regarded with indifference. This caused 
him much worriment for the safety of the 

93 



outlying country and the danger which 
would attend an untimely disaster. 

It happened at one time that a violent 
explosion occurred, either through careless- 
ness or from some unaccountable cause, 
which resulted in damaging the works quite 
considerably. Masses of rock were hurled 
in all directions, the force being so great 
that rocks falling a quarter of a mile dam- 
aged a house owned by Levi Lukens. 

Marked evidences of the old powder mill 
may still be seen, particularly after a freshet 
in the creek, when much of the surface is 
disturbed, resulting in the exposure of 
numerous brass balls used in the process of 
pulverizing the charcoal powder. On many 
occasions these balls have been found plenti- 
fully in the bed of the stream and around 
the adjacent regions where the farmers did 
their plowing. Frequently they have been 
picked up a half a mile away, sustaining 
the theory that there had been explosions 
at various times. These balls were some- 
what oxidized and darkened by long expos- 
ure and were often irregular in form, indi- 
cating that they had been much worn by 
extreme usage. The weights of these bul- 
lets averaged 133, 171, and 256 grains. 
The location of these balls has led me to 

94 



surmise that when accidents occurred they 
had been hurled in every direction by the 
explosive force. 

Mr. Rogers had frequently predicted an 
explosion. He was keenly aware of how 
totally indifferent his men had become to 
the dangers and to his admonitions. On 
one occasion while absent from his mill, 
which was a rare occurrence, he was awak- 
ened with the impression that something 
was going wrong, and he returned to find a 
portion of the mill destroyed. The loss of 
life cannot be authenicated, but burns and 
injuries and losses to property were com- 
mon occurrences. 

On all occasions there was quiet and order- 
liness. The only sound that could be easily 
heard for some distance was the pounding 
of the milling machine, the stamping of 
which, though low in tone, was always 
heard. 

As I have said before, the whole place 
was worked so quietly and was situated in 
such an isolated location that nothing dis- 
turbed the solitude. Occasionally the 
alarm bell was rung, only to sound the news 
to those employed, but this was rarely done. 
This old mill bell, which weighed about two 
hundred pounds, was erected at the upper 

95 



end of the enclosure on an elevated struc- 
ture suitable for the purpose. It hung 
silently in its place for many days in the 
quiet valley. On one occasion, on a bright 
and beautiful day, when all was still and 
the people busily employed, the bell sud- 
denly pealed forth, and the alarm was soon 
widespread. All hands rushed out to see 
the cause of the commotion. The houses 
were emptied, yet no cause for the confusion 
could be found. The mill ceased running 
and an investigation was started. Upon 
reaching the breast of the mill dam it was 
discovered that a man driving a yoke of 
oxen was coming down the lane and when 
crossing the bridge which spans the head 
race the timbers gave way and the team 
was precipitated into the race. As the 
oxen were unable to extricate themselves, 
the driver, being unaided and unable to 
render assistance, he seized the bell rope 
and sounded the alarm. 

Mr. Rogers was extremely loath to sell a 
small quantity of powder to the country 
people, who often had uses for it. A neigh- 
boring farmer sent one of his hands, Charles 
Fulton, down to the mill for a pound of 
powder to blow up a log which he could 
not split with an axe. Mr. Rogers sternly 

96 



replied that he never sold a pound of pow- 
der, and being highly indignant at the 
request became somewhat infuriated. In 
order to get rid of his caller he seized a 
handful or two of powder, placed it in a 
paper and handed it to the man with final 
remarks showing his utter distaste for such 
a transaction. 

It was customary to see Mr. Rogers with 
cane in hand walking around the grounds 
watching for heedless boys of the neighbor- 
hood, whom he had so intimidated by his 
threats that they were afraid to trespass. 



97 



ANECDOTES 

A NOTED and very daring individual in 
the employ of Mr Rogers was William 
Johnson, known around the place as 
"Billy." It was his custom to haul the 
powder to its destination. On one occa- 
sion he started out with his load of powder 
down the road towards Philadelphia. His 
horses were fine, but his wagon was old and 
much worn. He had gone a considerable 
distance on his journey over an extremely 
rocky and generally rough road when he 
noticed the darkening of the sky and the 
approach of a thunder storm rapidly 
gathering. 

The man usually had little fear, but on 
this occasion he wisely gathered his wits, 
turned his team around, and hurried for 
the nearest place of shelter. This proved 
to be a barn by the wayside. The storm 
increased rapidly, the wind blew fiercely, 
the lightning flashed, and the roar of the 
thunder was terrific. On he dashed, upset- 
ting the kegs of powder, but despite all his 
fear he reached the place in safety. 

On examining his load he found that a 
keg which was directly over the king bolt 
of the wagon had been jolted to pieces, 
allowing the bolt to rise up and down. 

98 



Powder was strewn over the floor and was 
hammered by the bolt as it hit against the 
iron plate on the bottom of the wagon, yet 
there was no explosion — certainly a remark- 
able coincidence. 

An interesting relic which can be seen 
still, is the original lamp used by the old 
cooper when he was pressed with overtime 
work or during the short and dark days of 
the winter. The lamp was made of iron, 
flat, and partly rounded, with a projecting 
lip which served to carry the wick. The 
top closed by a sliding lid. In this lamp 
lard or whale oil was generally burned. At 
the base of the bowl rose a handle arched 
above and connected to an iron stylet by a 
ring at the end. The lamp could be car- 
ried from place to place, and wherever it was 
desired to remain the pointed end of the 
stylet was thrust against a beam and securely 
held. In this manner was his workroom 
illuminated. 

Another particularly interesting act was 
the making of the kegs of those days. They 
were made entirely by hand on an old- 
fashioned cooper's bench. The wood used 
was principally oak cut to the required 
lengths and split to a certain size and thin- 
ness by the axe and finished by the hand 

99 



drawing knife. The method of shaping the 
kegs was interesting. Each keg as made 
was put together in an upright iron frame 
in the shape of a keg and secured by a 
metal hoop at each end. Through the 
open frame the heat of a slow fire was 
allowed to pass which heated the staves 
and gave them pliancy. When this was 
secured the upper and lower hoops were 
driven into place and the desired bend of 
the kegs obtained. 

They were afterwards stored in a cool 
and well ventilated cellar in readiness to 
be filled and headed as orders were received. 



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FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE 

IN reference to the buildings that stood 
'along Cobb's Creek and vicinity in the 
earlier days there remains one which 
should be duly noticed in connection with 
my former remarks as being one of the ear- 
liest and especially noteworthy. This is the 
Friends' Meeting House in Haverford, situ- 
ated a short distance from the Clinton 
Mills and adjacent to St. Dennis's Church 
on the opposite side of the road. It was 
constructed substantially of stone and was 
built at two different times. The older 
end was erected about 1700 and was used 
for one century. In 1800 it was enlarged 
and made more commodious and com- 
fortable. 

In the earlier days the building was con- 
structed without a chimney and, in order 
to warm the meeting, a rude sort of stove 
or furnace was built on both sides of the 
building and the fuel furnished from out- 
side of the house. The construction was 
such that the tops of the stoves were of 
iron and the smoke escaped by side flues 
parallel to the walls on the outside, a short 
distance above the entrance through which 
the fuel was introduced. By this means the 
walls on both sides of the house were heated 

103 



and the air of the room was made quite 
comfortable. At the southern end of the 
building may still be seen a portion of this 
construction. While doing the rebuilding 
most of it was removed. Within a recent 
period the interior of the Meeting House 
was decidedly altered, and the long stand- 
ing antique appearance remodeled to con- 
form to modern designs, a change attended 
with much dissatisfaction by the few exist- 
ing members of the older Meeting. 

This building will stand for many years, 
being substantially built. 

In this building many of the older resi- 
dents of the powder-mill section attended 
public worship, it being the only church or 
meeting house in that part of the country 
where religious services were then con- 
ducted. At one time this Meeting House 
was largely attended, but now the member- 
ship has dwindled to very few. The relig- 
ious sect has greatly decreased, and the 
younger members of the older families 
have sought other denominations for their 
religious beliefs. 



104 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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